About the official relations of Amsdorf, because of which Luther would like to visit him. News.
The original is in Cod. Seidel, in Dresden. Printed by Schütze, vol. I, p. 259 and by De Wette, vol. V, p.555. German by Walch, vol. XXI, 1502.
To the highly famous man and gentleman, Nicolaus von Amsdorf, your right and fair bishop of the church at Naumburg, his superior who is to be highly honored in the Lord.
Grace and peace! I am glad to hear that D. Medler is calm. For we have begun to discuss that we would take care of him in another place, if it were his will, but in the meantime we have
Letters from the year 1543. No. 3008. 3009.
At the same time, we have heard that the people of Naumburg would not like to dismiss him, and we would not like to grieve them. You were right to ask the prince for his dismissal, whether he, after being reminded, would be more diligent in taking care of the affairs of your diocese. It is an unbearable clamor with which the Lord Creiz, 1) your bishop, is being hounded through, mainly because, although he wants to be completely innocent, he does everything in a tyrannical manner, so that I would like to visit you very much for the sake of this one cause, in order to be informed more precisely about everything, and so that I would have something with which I could stir up our court through complaints. For it has also been promised through my mouth that nothing shall be taken away from all former rights and dignities in the diocese, except the papist impieties. Now the papists see something different, and the subjects are crying out. I will try to visit you as soon as my health and time permit, God willing. The Lord be with you, amen.
There is a lot of news about the war affairs, especially the Turkish ones. In the Belgians, the Duke of Jülich is said to have put the Burgundians to flight, taken 14 guns called Carthaginians, and slain many. They boast that the emperor is alive. 2) Would to God that he lived in God. I fear that the sea fishes have long ago consumed his body. Again, be well in the Lord. April 6, 1543.
Your Mart. Luther.
No. 3009.